New Delhi: That the road accidents thanks to poor eyesight of many drivers are  a major cause of deaths and physical disabilities in India was highlighted at the 4th Annual Vision and Rod Safety (VARS 4.0) conference in New Delhi on March 12.

 The event co-hosted by India Vision Institute, Mission for Vision, Sightsavers India and VisionSpring brought together a diverse group of experts, policymakers and stakeholders from the road safety and eye health sectors to discuss the clear role of clear vision in ensuring safer roads.

 Mr. Vinod Daniel, the CEO of the India Vision Institute, who has played a key role in the movement to provide eye health care to the vulnerable sections of the society, says that the problem is so gigantic that the solution cannot be left to government alone. The non-governmental bodies need to join hands with all the stakeholders to tackle the problem.  

 According to Mr. Daniel, as the network of highways and roads has exponentially grown as part of the development, so have number of deaths and disabilities caused by accidents on the roads, mainly due to the poor sight of drivers of freight and passenger vehicles.

 What was significant about the conference, Mr. Daniel points out, is that it was not a talking shop but organized by a cohort of four non-governmental organisations which have been trying to solve the root cause of the accidents by providing glasses to the drivers who have either no access to eye health care or are unaware of the risks caused to life and limb due to poor eyesight.

 The Vision 4.0 was another event in the series that witnessed the Vision and Road Safety (VARS) last year. Yesterday’s event shows that it’s not an one-off kind of thing but a determined effort to make it a regular feature to help solve the problem of accidents that has become a bane  for the roads of the country.

  And the facts loudly speak about the remarkable achievements of these four organisations. Over the past year, the co-hosts have collectively screened the vision of nearly two million commercial vehicle drivers, helpers, cleaners, mechanics, and other transport workers in India.

 They remain committed to sustaining this momentum in the future. With the provision of eyeglasses and essential eye care, they have significantly enhanced the safety standards on the roads. Committed to sustaining and expanding this progress, the initiative strives to provide every transport worker with essential eye care, ensuring both their safety and the safety of others on the road.

More than 100 eye health leaders convened at this event, with addresses from experts and policymakers from the UN Envoy for Road Safety (UNRSF), the World Health Organization (WHO) India, and the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, to align on the practical next steps and deliver accessible eye care to drivers and transport workers across India to improve road safety.

This initiative aligns with the UN Global Plan for Road Safety, which underscores the importance of improved vision in achieving safer road standards, as well as WHO’s “VISION 2030” agenda, which promotes a people-centered approach to eye care. Stockholm Declaration on Road Safety, India is committed to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries to 50% by 2030.  

Impaired vision is detrimental for drivers across India. As per the report, Road Accidents in India 2022 released by MORTH, total accidents in India amounted to 4,61,312 out of which 1,68,491 resulted in deaths. 

 Moreover, as per a Central Road Research Institute study conducted involving 500 commercial vehicle drivers in Delhi, 37% of the drivers experienced far vision limitation in the left eye, 36% in the right eye and 31% in both eyes. Similarly, a high percentage of drivers suffered from near-vision limitations.  

An aspect overlooked in road safety measures is the significance of clear and healthy vision required for safe driving, enabling drivers to effectively perceive road conditions, signs, and potential hazards. Targeted Eye Health initiatives for driving communities are critical to the Goal of “Vision Zero” in Road Safety.  

Additionally, the ‘Vision Zero’ plays a crucial role in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, intersecting with multiple Sustainable Development Goals—from poverty alleviation and economic growth to employment, education, gender equality, and reducing inequalities.

 Mr Amod K. Kanth, Founder - Prayas JAC Society and former  Director-General of the Police, remarked that his experience of  34 years in the police force has shown the devastating impact of road accidents—1.5 lakh lives lost annually, which does not account for people who become disabled.

  In a joint statement, Mr Anshu Taneja, Managing Director, VisionSpring, India, Ms Elizabeth Kurian, CEO, Mission for Vision, Mr R. N. Mohanty, CEO, Sightsavers India, and Mr Vinod Daniel, CEO, India Vision Institute said that there was an urgent need to recognize the undeniable link between vision and road safety.

 The statement called upon the government agencies, corporates, and NGOs to join hands in making roads safer across India by creating awareness of the cause.
 

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